Protective base plates for pallet tiering frames

ABSTRACT

A base plate for detachably mounting a pallet tiering frame to a conventional wooden pallet of the type formed with spaced stringers and transversely disposed deck boards. The base plate is adapted to be mounted on a pallet deck board over the end of a stringer and effectively shield the interface of the stringer and deck board to prevent the forks of a lift truck from prying the deck board and stringer apart or otherwise damaging them during handling of the pallet. One form of base plate is disclosed for mounting on the corner of a pallet, and a second form is shown for mounting at the center of an end pallet deck board. For positively securing each of these base plates in mounted position on the pallet, selectively engageable and releasable lock means is provided on the base plate.

[ Dec. 24, 1974 PROTECTIVE BASE PLATES FOR PALLET TIERING FRAMES [75]Inventors: Leroy F. Skubic, La Port; Peter P.

Blozis, Beverly Shores, both of Ind.

[73] Assignee: The Paltier Corporation, Michigan City, Ind.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 307,424

52 US. Cl. 108/55 51 int. Cl B65d 19/44 [58] Field of Search 108/51, 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,986 7/1921 Cullinan108/55 X 2,547,112 4/1951 Daniels 108/55 X 2,828,932 4/1958 De'Pew eta1. 108/55 2,828,933 4/1958 De Pew et al. 108/55 3,227,848 10/1966 Rungeet al 108/55 3,273,518 9/1966 Shina... 108/55 3,289,613 12/1966 Evans108/55 3,315,800 4/1967 Wagner 108/55 X Primary ExaminerPaul R. GilliamAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A base plate for detachably mounting a pallet tieringframe to a conventional wooden pallet of the type formed with spacedstringers and transversely dis posed deck boards. The base plate isadapted to be mounted on a pallet deck board over the end of a stringerand effectively shield the interface of the stringer and deck board toprevent the forks ofa lift truck from prying the deck board and stringerapart or otherwise damaging them during handling of the pallet. One formof base plate is disclosed for mounting on the corner of a pallet, and asecond form is shown for mounting at the center of an end pallet deckboard. For positively securing each of these base plates in mountedposition on the pallet, selectively engageable and releasable lock meansis provided on the base plate.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PROTECTIVE BASE PLATFSFOR PALLET TIERDJG Inusing conventional wooden pallets with pallet tiering frames, thelongevity of the pallet tends to be relatively short. When such palletsare engaged by a fork lift truck for transfer or stacking, the mostvulnerable parts of the pallet are the two outermost deck boards. Theforks of the lift truck tend to strike the sides of the pallet andseparate these deck boards from the stringers, especially when thepallets are equipped with pallet tiering frames and the truck carriestwoor more pallets at one time. In addition, such striking of the pallet bythe fork truck can even sometimes cause the frame to be dislodged fromthe pallet resulting in the collapse and damage of a stack of tieredpallets.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baseplate for a pallet tiering frame which is adapted to be mounted on apallet deck board over the end of a stringer and effectively shield theinterface of the stringer and deck board to prevent the fork of a lifttruck from prying the deck board and stringer apart upon impact duringhandling.

Another object is to provide a base plate for a pallet tiering frame ascharacterized above which may be quickly and easily mounted on orremoved from a pallet, but yet is adapted to be positively locked to thepallet so as to resist any tendency to become disengaged from the palletduring handling.

Still another object is to provide a pallet tiering frame base plate ofthe above type which is of simple and durable construction and thuseconomical to make and use. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrated pallet tiering frameexemplifying the present invention and mounted on a wooden pallet ofconventional form;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the base plate for the frame shownin FIG. 1 with a portion of the pallet on which it is mounted shown inphantom;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged vertical sections taken in the planes oflines 33 and 4-4, respectively, in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of pallet tiering framealso exemplifying the invention and mounted on a conventional pallet;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective of the base plate for two of theupright posts of the frame shown in FIG. 5 with a portion of the palleton which it is mounted shown in phantom; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged vertical sections taken in the planes oflines 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, in FIG. 6.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have beenshown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It shouldbe under stood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, al-

temative constructions, and equivalents falling the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the invention is thereexemplified in an illustrative tiering frame 10 mounted on aconventional wood pallet 11. In this inwithin stance, the pallet 11includes a plurality of laterally spaced parallel stringers 12, 13 withdeck boards 14, 15 fastened transversely to the stringers 12, 13 oneither side thereof. The stringers 12, 13 are positioned at each end ofthe deck boards with one stringer 13 in the middle, although the numberof stringers and deck boards may vary depending upon the loads andusages for which the pallet is designed.

The frame 10 in this case is of the corner post type with posts beingpositioned at the respective upper corners of the pallet directly overthe ends of the outer stringers 12. The frame 10 is fabricated of hollowtubular stock and comprises two sections 16 detachably connected by aninterlock device 18 and held in assembled relation on the pallet. Eachsuch frame section 16 comprises a pair of upright posts 19 having palletengaging base plates 20 at their lower ends and connected at their upperends by a generally V-shaped top member 21 which overlies the palletwhen the frame is assembled thereon. The interlock device 18 may be anymeans which will permit easy engagement and separation of the topmembers 21 such as the interlock device disclosed in applicantscopending application, Ser. No. 220,608, filed Ian. 25, 1972.

In accordance with the present invention, the base plates 20 are adaptedto detachably, yet positively, connect a respective frame post to thepallet and effectively shield the interface of the deck board andstringer over which it is mounted to prevent a fork lift from prying thedeck board and the stringer apart or otherwise damaging them duringhandling of the pallet. To this end, the base plate 20 comprises a flathorizontal plate 25 welded to the lower end of the frame post 19 forpositioning on a corner of the pallet 11. A depending flange 26 in thiscase having a general L shape extends downwardly from one side of theflat plate 25 to cover a side portion 14a of the deck board 14, theinterface line 28 between the side of the deck board 14 and the end ofthe stringer 12, and a substantial portion of the end face 12a of thestringer 12. To more effectively protect the joint between the upperdeck board 14 and the stringer 12, an L-shaped flange 29, having avertical plate 30 and a horizontal plate 31 extends inwardly from thedepending flange 26 to cover a portion of the inner side surface of thestringer 12, the immediately adjacent underside surface of the deckboard 14, and the interface line between those two surfaces. Inaddition, a second depending flange 32, again having a generallyL-shaped configuration, extends downwardly from the flat plate 25 tocover a portion of the outer side surface 12b of the stringer 12, theend face 14b of the deck board 14, and the interface line 34 betweenthese joining surfaces. It will be seen that the base plate 20 therebyeffectively shields the most vulnerable portions of the pallet comerfrom damage due to impact from a fork lift.

In addition to protecting the comer of the pallet, the base plate 20fimily and reliably engages the pallet 11. To that end, the seconddepending flange 32 and vertical plate 30 of the L-shaped flange 29straddle the stringer 12 to prevent movement transversely to thestringer when the base plate is in mounted position on the pallet. Thehorizontal plate 31 of the L-shaped flange and the flat plate similarlystraddle the deck board 14 to prevent relative vertical movement of thebase plate.

In keeping with the invention, a selectively engageable and releasablelock means is provided for positively securing the base plate in mountedposition on the pallet. As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, a locking lug 40 ispositioned for relative vertical movement in an extension 41 in the flathorizontal plate 25. The lug 40 in the present instance is a U-shapedmember having legs 42 disposed in a pair of corresponding aperturesformed in the plate extension 41. The legs of the U- shaped lug 40terminate with outwardly tapered flanges 44 so as to restrict verticalmovement of the lug. The locking lug 40 is spaced from the dependingflange 26 a distance slightly greater than the width of the deck board14 so that when the bracket is mounted on the pallet, the lug 40 may beallowed to drop into the space between the outermost deck board'and thenext adjacent one.

Thus, to mount base plate 20 upon or remove it from the pallet 11, thelocking lug 40 is merely lifted'to the raised position shown in phantomin FIG. 4. In that position, the base plate 20 may be slid onto or offthe corner of the pallet in the longitudinal'direction of the stringer12. When the base plate 20 is in position on the pallet, the locking lug40 may be released so that it falls to its lowered position between thedeck boards shown in solid lines in the drawings. In such position, thecombination of the locking lug 40 and the depending flange 26 preventlateral movement in the direction of the stringer and thereby positivelyhold the base plate on the pallet. It will be appreciated that since thelocking lug utilizes spacing between the deck boards of a standardpallet, the base plate may be positively locked in position withoutmodification to the pallet.

Turning next to FIGS. 5-8, there is shown another form of pallet tieringframe having base plates also embodying the present invention. In thisinstance, the frame 50 is of the centerpost type, being mounted on aconventional pallet 11 such as previously described with the base platesdisposed intermediate the sides of the pallet rather than at the comers.The frame 50 comprises two sections 54, each having a pair of uprightposts 56 with pallet engaging base plates 57, 58 and a generallyV-shaped top member 59. A releasable locking member 60 engages theV-shaped top members 59 at their apexes.

The pallet engaging base plate 57 provided on one post 56 of eachsection 54, 55 is adapted to overlie the end of the center stringer 13of the pallet and effectively shield the interface between that stringerand its and stringer l3, and nearly the complete end face 13a of thestringer. A first L-shaped flange having a vertical plate 66 andhorizontal plate 68, extends inwardly from one side of the T-shapeddepending flange 62 to protect one side of the stringer 13, theimmediately adjacent underside surface of the deck board 14, and the 6interface line between those surfaces. A second depending flange 70having a vertical plate 71 and a hori- 4 zontal plate 72 extendsinwardly from the opposite side of said depending flange 62 to protectthe other side of the stringer 13, the immediately adjacent underside ofthe deckboard 14, and the interface between those two of the L-shapedflanges 65, 70 straddle the center stringer 13 and the flat plate 61 andhorizontal flange plates 68, 72 straddle the deck board 14 to preventmovement of the base plate in two directions relative to the pallet whenmounted thereon. v

To positively lock the base plate 57 in position on the pallet, avertically movable locking lug 74 is provided in the flat plate 61. Thelocking lug 74 is identical to that described in the previous embodimentand similarly is located a distance from the depending flange 62 whichis slightly greater than the width of the deck board 14 so that it maybe selectively lowered into locking position in the space between thedeck boards.

The base plates 58 provided on the other post 56 of each frame section54, 55 are adapted to mount the posts on the pallet at a positionintermediate the'ends of the stringers 12. While the stringers 12 atthis'position are less vulnerable to damage-from fork lifts since thefork generally engages the pallet from the open side of the pallet andparallel to the stringers, the base plates 58 each are formed with adepending flange extending downwardly from its outer side to a positionbelow the interface line between the end of the deck board 12 and theside of the stringer 14. The opposite side of the base plate may beprovided with a locking lug 81, similar to the lugs 74 used on the baseplate 57, or alternatively a fixed depending flange may be provided forengaging the inside face of the outer stringer 12.

While the base plates of the present invention have been illustrated foruse on frames having two interconnectable sections, it will beunderstood that such base plates may be used on other types of tieringframe constructions that are intended for detachable mounting onconventional wooden pallets.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for I mounting on apallet having parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boardssecured to 'said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connectedat the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing saidpost to said pallet comprising, in combination,

a flat plate secured at the lower end of said post for positioning onone of said deck boards at a location where said deck board traverses anend of one of said stringers,

flat plate for covering the interface line of said deck board andstringer end and at least a portion of the end face of said stringerend,

a first substantially L-shaped flange having a vertical plate and ahorizontal plate both extending inwardly from said depending flange forpositioning against the side of said stringer and the immediatelyadjacent underside of said deck board respectively to cover theinterface between said stringer side and deck board underside, and

a second flange integrally formed on said base plate for positioningagainst the side of said stringer opposite said first L-shaped flange.

surfaces. It can be seen that the vertical plates 66, 71

a depending flangeextending downwardly from said 2. The base plate asset forth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on a corner ofsaid pallet, said second flange extending downwardly from said flatplate perpendicularly to said first depending flange for covering theinterface of the end of said deck board and said stringer and at least aportion of said stringer, and said vertical plate of said first L-shapedflange being parallel to said second depending flange for positioningadjacent the opposite side of said stringer.

3. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate ismountable on said deck board intermediate the ends thereof and saiddepending flange has a substantially T shape with the upper crossportion of said T adjacent the side of said deck board and the stem ofsaid T adjacent the end face of said stringer, said first L-shapedflange extending inwardly from one side of said T-shaped flange forpositioning against one side of said stringer and the immediatelyadjacent underside surface of said stringer, and said second flangebeing L-shaped having vertical and horizontal plates extending inwardlyfrom the opposite side of said T-shaped flange for positioning againstthe opposite side of said stringer and the immediately adjacentunderside surface of said deck board.

4. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 in which said depending flangecovers a substantial portion of the end face of said stringer.

5. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 including a lock means on saidflat plate for positively securing said base plate on said pallet whenmounted thereon.

6. The base plate as set forth in claim 5 in which said lock means is alug mounted for vertical movement on said flat plate between raised andlowered positions, said lug when in a lowered position extending independing fashion between spaced pallet deck boards of the pallet onwhich the base plate is mounted to prevent removal of the base plate,and said lug when in a raised position permitting removal of base platefrom said pallet.

7. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a palletwhich has parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boardssecured to said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connectedto the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing saidpost to said pallet comprising, in combinatron,

a flat plate secured at the lower end of said post for positioning onone of said deck boards at a location where said deck board traverses anend of one of said stringers,

a depending flange extending downwardly from said flat plate forcovering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end and atleast a portion of the end face of said stringer,

a first flange extending inwardly from said depending flange forpositioning on one side of said stringer and the underside of said deckboard,

said flat plate and first flange straddling said deck board to preventvertical movement of said base plate relative to said deck board whenmounted thereon,

a second flange formed in said base plate for positioning on theopposite side of said stringer, said first and second flange straddlingsaid stringer to prevent movement of said base plate transversely tosaid stringer when said base plate is mounted on said pallet,

a locking member mounted on said flat plate for selective movementbetween raised and lowered positions relative to said flat plate, saidlocking member when in said lowered position positively secured saidbase plate to said pallet, and said locking member when in a raisedposition permitting said base plate to be mounted onto and moved fromsaid pallet.

8. The base plate as set forth in claim 7 in which said locking memberis a U-shaped lug, said U-shaped lug having legs slidably positioned insaid flat plate and formed with transverse flanges at the ends thereofto restrict vertical movement relative to said flat plate to adetermined range.

I l l=

1. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a pallethaving parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards securedto said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected at thelower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing said postto said pallet comprising, in combination, a flat plate secured at thelower end of said post for positioning on one of said deck boards at alocation where said deck board traverses an end of one of saidstringers, a depending flange extending downwardly from said flat platefor covering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end andat least a portion of the end face of said stringer end, a firstsubstantially L-shaped flange having a vertical plate and a horizontalplate both extending inwardly from said depending flange for positioningagainst the side of said stringer and the immediately adjacent undersideof said deck board respectively to cover the interface between saidstringer side and deck board underside, and a second flange integrallyformed on said base plate for positioning against the side of saidstringer opposite said first L-shaped flange.
 2. The base plate as setforth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on a corner ofsaid pallet, said second flange extending downwardly from said flatplate perpendicularly to said first depending flange for covering theinterface of the end of said deck board and said stringer and at least aportion of said stringer, and said vertical plate of said first L-shapedflange being parallel to said second depending flange for positioningadjacent the opposite side of said stringer.
 3. The base plate as setforth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on said deck boardintermediate the ends thereof and said depending flange has asubstantially T shape with the upper cross portion of said T adjacentthe side of said deck board and the stem of said T adjacent the end faceof said stringer, said first L-shaped flange extending inwardly from oneside of said T-shaped flange for positioning against one side of saidstringer and the immediately adjacent underside surface of saidstringer, and said second flange being L-shaped having vertical andhorizontal plates extending inwardly from the opposite side of saidT-shaped flange for positioning against the opposite side of saidstringer and the immediately adjacent underside surface of said deckboard.
 4. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 in which said dependingflange covers a substantial portion of the end face of said stringer. 5.The base plate as set forth in claim 1 including a lock means on saidflat plate for positively securing said base plate on said pallet whenmounted thereon.
 6. The base plate as set forth in claim 5 in which saidlock means is a lug mounted for vertical movement on said flat platebetween raised and lowered positions, said lug when in a loweredposition extending in depending fashion between spaced pallet deckboards of the pallet on which the base plate is mounted to preventremoval of the base plate, and said lug when in a raised positionpermitting removal of base plate from said pallet.
 7. In a pallettiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a pallet which hasparallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards secured to saidstringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected to the lower endof one of said frame posts for detachably securing said post to saidpallet comprising, in combination, a flat plate secured at the lower endof said post for positioning on one of said deck boards at a locationwhere said deck board traverses an end of one of said stringers, adepending flange extending downwardly from said flat plate for coveringthe interface line of said deck board and stringer end and at least aportion of the end face of said stringer, a first flange extendinginwardly from said depending flange for positioning on one side of saidstringer and the underside of said deck board, said flat plate and firstflange straddling said deck board to prevent vertical movement of saidbase plate relative to said deck board when mounted thereon, a secondflange formed in said base plate for positioning on the opposite side ofsaid stringer, said first and second flange straddling said stringer toprevent movement of said base plate transversely to said stringer whensaid base plate is mounted on said pallet, a locking member mounted onsaid flat plate for selective movement between raised and loweredpositions relative to said flat plate, said locking member when in saidlowered position positively secured said base plate to said pallet, andsaid locking member when in a raised position permitting said base plateto be mounted onto and moved from said pallet.
 8. The base plate as setforth in claim 7 in which said locking member is a U-shaped lug, saidU-shaped lug having legs slidably positioned in said flat plate andformed with transverse flanges at the ends thereof to restrict verticalmovement relative to said flat plate to a determined range.